VCARA Blog: Activities and Events

Overview

VCARA Blog: Activities and Events

This is a historical glimpse of past VCARA information. For the latest information, and how to follow us on social media, please visit our blog at https://ischoolblogs.sjsu.edu/vcara/ 

VCARA Blog

Recap VCARA Spring 2020 VR Field Trip

Published: April 4, 2020 by Dr. Pat Franks

Time travel in Virtual Worlds is so much easier and faster than in real life–and thankfully we don’t have to worry about social distancing!

Friday, April 3–in only one hour–the “Friends of VCARA” visited:

VCARA Blog

VWBPE Conference–Panel on Criteria for VR/VW

preceptor Amat

Published: March 26, 2020 by Dr. Pat Franks

This past year the VCARA team has turned their attention to comparing the capabilities of Virtual Worlds (e.g., VCARA and CVL) to social Virtual Reality (e.g., Sansar and VR Chat).

Attend the Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education Conference session, Survey Says! Developing Criteria for VR Courses, to learn of the results of our preliminary research.

VCARA Blog

VW vs VR “Smackdown” — Round 2 — YouTube
Enjoy the show!

OSCC

Published: March 7, 2020 by Dr. Pat Franks

Last October, VCARA hosted a Virtual Worlds vs Virtual Reality Smackdown event that was so popular, it was taken on the road–presented as part of the OpenSimulator Community Conference (OSCC).

If you missed the events on VCARA and OSCC, you can still learn from the presenters by viewing the YouTube Video. Enjoy!

VCARA Blog

Virtual Pioneers Tour in SL
February 23 at 5 p.m. SLT - Tour of Museum Island

Published: February 16, 2020 by Dr. Pat Franks

Please join the Virtual Pioneers and John Noone (JohnNoone Resident) and Morgan Darkrose for a Tour of Museum Island.

Museum Island is an archaeological site, an artistic idea of Carlolello Zapatero an Italian artist & graphic designer. His passion for cultures and civilizations of all world, led to this creation of 3D historical and architectural art.

VCARA Blog

Tour of Nonprofit Commons Library–Fun was had by all!

Published: November 19, 2019 by Dr. Pat Franks

The Virtual Center for Archives and Records Administration (VCARA) and the Community Virtual Library hosted a tour of the Nonprofit Commons Resource Library in Second Life on Sunday, November 17. 

VCARA Blog

VR vs VW in Education Smackdown
A Recap of the October 15th Main Event

Published: October 16, 2019 by Dr. Pat Franks

If you missed the VR / VW Smackdown, you missed not only an informative session—but quite an entertaining one. The two sparring partners—Alyse Dunavant-Jones enthusiastic about the current efforts in and possibilities for Virtual Reality in education and Bethany Winslow defending the track-record and value of experience in Virtual Worlds—did justice to their positions. By all account, the bout ended in a draw!

VCARA Blog

Virtual Reality vs Virtual Worlds “Smackdown”
Tuesday, October 15, 2019 - 5 p.m. - 6 p.m. SLT (Pacific)

Published: October 14, 2019 by Dr. Pat Franks

Join us for a lively debate on the merits of virtual worlds and virtual reality! Our first presenter, Alyse Dunavant-Jones, argues that “VR is the future, and the future is now!” Our second presenter, Bethany Winslow, cautions that “Regardless of what VR platforms are used in the future, designers of effective immersive learning with VR must know the history of virtual worlds in education as well as have some hands-on experience in using them.” The sparing partners will be moderated by Dr. Valerie Hill, the director of the Community Virtual Library in Second Life, Avacon, and Kitely. 

VCARA Blog

2019-2020 is the Year of Virtual Reality Exploration in VCARA

VCARA

Published: October 7, 2019 by Dr. Pat Franks

The Virtual Center for Archives and Records Administration on SJSU’s iSchool Island has been hub of activity over the past 10 years. Just some of the events and activities being delivered with text and voice chat were: guest speakers, field trips, banned books exhibits, Halloween parties, Holiday balls, jousting events in Tudor Times, meet-ups at the Pub (or coffee bar for tea-totalers), conferences, and much more. Courses have been taught in this immersive environment, with many opportunities for educators to experiment with the tools that were available at the start and the many that became available over the years—including camera functions, media on a prim, and ability to customize avatars, build on the spot, transfer objects to other players.

VCARA Blog

The Best of Archiving’19: Lisbon Recap
Presented by Dr. Marie Vans

Published: September 10, 2019 by Dr. Pat Franks

Marie Vans image

Marie Vans, a senior research scientist with Hewlett-Packard Labs in Fort Collins, Colorado, and an iSchool alumna presented an informative and entertaining presentation recapping some of the events of the Archiving ’19 Conference held by The Society for Imaging Science & Technology at the Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo in Lisbon, Portugal.

VCARA Blog

10th Annual VCARA Conference Schedule – 4/23/19

Published: April 20, 2019 by Alyse Dunavant-Jones

Join VCARA for our 10th Annual VCARA Conference at 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. SLT (Pacific) Tuesday, April 23, 2019! This year’s theme is inspired by Ancient Egypt: “Sands of Time: Looking Back to Move Forward.” Come dressed as yourself or in your favorite Ancient Egyptian attire.

VCARA Blog

10th Annual VCARA Conference: Call For Presentations

10th Annual VCARA Conference - Call for Posters

Published: January 15, 2019 by Alyse Dunavant-Jones

Mark your calendars for the 10th Annual VCARA Conference from 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. SLT (Pacific) Tuesday, April 23, 2019. This year’s theme is “Sands of Time: Looking Back to Move Forward” and will emphasize heroes and activities from VCARA’s past as well as prospects for future virtual world best practices and endeavors. Submit your proposal for a 10-minute mini presentation by Monday, April 8 for one of the 10 slots available.

VCARA Blog

Dickens Project: VCARA Reads “The Christmas Tree”

Published: November 17, 2018 by Alyse Dunavant-Jones

Join VCARA on Tuesday, December 4, 2018 at 6pm SLT (Pacific)  with a festive live voice reading of “The Christmas Tree”, a short story by Charles Dickens.
The reading will take place at the Community Virtual Library’s Dickens Resource Center (SL URL: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA7/236/61/21) as part of Seanchai Library’s Dickens Project in Second Life.

VCARA Blog

VCARA Lecture 11/13/18: Cybersecurity, Second Life & Real Life

Published: November 2, 2018 by Alyse Dunavant-Jones

Join VCARA on Tuesday, November 13, 2018 at 6 pm SLT (Pacific) for a lecture by cybersecurity specialist Erik Moore (medi Martian in Second Life).

This event will take place at the VCARA Amphitheatre on the iSchool Island in Second Life (SLURL: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SJSU%20SLIS/47/83/33).
We will also simulcast the event in Zoom for those who cannot join us in Second Life: https://sjsu.zoom.us/j/926315807

VCARA Blog

Community Virtual Library: Call for Dickens Project Research

Published: October 23, 2018 by Alyse Dunavant-Jones

The Community Virtual Library (CVL) is now accepting proposals for its Dickens Project Resource Center in Second Life.

This annual exhibit highlights aspects of Charles Dickens and the Victorian Era. Presentation formats can vary (slideshow, poster, image, video) and can include audio and text. Additional formats (e.g. sculpture) may be welcome but must receive approval from CVL. CVL recommends that researchers keep presentations brief (5-10 slides/minutes).